Kadugodi residents turn flexes into garbage sacks, planters

Flex boards at political events are a common sight and are often discarded carelessly. At one such recent political gathering in the city, around three truckloads of flexes were displayed. Thanks to the efforts of waste management volunteers, the flexes are being reused creatively this time.

More than 50  flexes of varied sizes lined the streets of Kadugodi till Whitefield in the third week of June. It was a public convention attended by former BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa. While it was a zero-waste event where plastic was avoided and cloth banners were used, the flexes were being used extensively making the stretch an eyesore.

On seeing them, an active waste management volunteer from Kadugodi, Priyadarshini Raghuram, who works for the awareness of ‘2 bins 1 bag’ system to tackle garbage, came forward to do something out of the flexes. She discussed the idea with volunteer Sandeep Anirudhan and three to four like-minded residents in the area. They all readily agreed with her.

Used for garbage
With the help of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike ( BBMP) workers and Kadugodi councillor (ward 83), S Muniswamy, all the flexes were brought down after the event. The volunteers started making sacks out of the flexes to be used later by pourakarmikas or waste pickers to fill in the garbage.

“We have made more than 20 sacks till date and we use nylon thread to stitch flex sheets. We plan to make planters with them and use them to grow small and large plants,” said Anirudhan and Priyadarshini.

While this was the first political event at which they worked, Priyadarshini and her team regularly arrange zero-waste community events and ward activities.

Meanwhile, councillor S Muniswamy told Deccan Herald that around 1,600 kg of plastic bags and other items were seized from his ward in the last two to three weeks.

He added that though the use of flexes and banners has come down during political events, they crop up on streets.
DH News Service